Procedural law under the EPC-2000

The EPC was updated at the diplomatic conference held in Munich in the year 2000 and this revised EPC came into force on 13th December 2007. The changes were far reaching and formed a paradigm shift in the way the European Patent Office operates from a legal point of view.

"Procedural law under the EPC-2000" is intended to be a reference work for patent professionals and candidates for the European Qualifying Examination, when studying the revised Convention. The book is designed to guide the reader through the "thickets of the law", and to help him or her to find all of the information needed to process an application, patent, opposition, appeal, or any other request before the EPO.

This third edition (2013) is updated to all of the most recent legal changes. It covers, in particular, the reorganisation of the EPO Guidelines, the abandonment of the legal advices and their incorporation into the EPO Guidelines, the changes to the procedure for grant under amended R.71 and new R.71a and the new sanction provided by amended R.53(3) for failure to translate the priority; as well as various new decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal and new developments in Board of Appeal case law.

The book is written in a practical way and deals thoroughly and systematically with the different topics, but is also structured to fit all parts into "the bigger picture". It is hoped, that after getting accustomed to its format, readers will find the book a useful tool in their study and daily work.